CYPERACEAE 199 
gated, the upper more slender, remote: spikelets fusiform, acute at both ends, about 6 
mm. long, numerous in 1-4 narrow finally drooping panicles: scales brown, lanceolate, 
acuminate: perianth-bristles 6, upwardly hispid, very slender, about twice as long as the 
achene: achenes linear-oblong or oblanceolate, 2 mm. long, transversely wrinkled ; tuber- 
cle flat, triangular-subulate, 3 as long as the achene-body, setose. 
In moist soil, Virginia to Florida and Louisiana. Summer. 
.20. SCLERIA Berg. 
Mostly perennial caulescent herbs. Spikelets small, clustered in terminal, or terminal 
and axillary fascicles, or sometimes interruptedly glomerate-spicate. Flowers monoecious. 
Fertile spikelets 1-flowered. Staminate spikelets many-flowered. Scales imbricated, the 
1-3 lower and sometimes also the upper ones of the pistillate spikelets empty. Perianth 
none. Stamens 1-3. Style slender or sometimes swollen at the base, deciduous. Stigmas 
3. Ovary supported by a disk (hypogynium), or this wanting. Achenes globose or 
ovoid, obtuse, crustaceous or bony, white in our species. Nut Rusu. 
Inflorescence of 1 or several terminal or lateral clusters. 
Inflorescence a single terminal cluster : hypogynium wanting. : 
Achenes 2-3 mm. long, obtuse, with 2 pits in each side of the 3-angled base. 1, S. gracilis. 
Achenes 4 mm. long, acute, without pits. 2. S. Bald winii. 
Inflorescence of terminal and axillary clusters. 
Achene smooth. 
Hypogynium present, 2-angled: leaf-blades 3-9 mm. wide. 
Hypogynium covered with a rough white crust. 
Hypogynium supporting 8 or 9 tubercles. 
Hypogynium wanting: leaf-blades 1.5-2.5 mm. wide. 
Achene reticulated, ridged or papillose. 
Achene reticulated or irregularly ridged. 
Hypogynium 3-lobed, appressed to the base of the achene. 
S. triglomerata. 
S. oligantha. 
S. lithosperma. 
cu 
N 
Clusters of spikelets sessile or nearly so: achene not hairy. 6. S. reticularis. 
Lower clusters of spikelets filiform-peduncled : achene hairy. 
Achene regularly reticulated 7. S. trichopoda. 
Achene irregularly rugose-reticulated to nearly smooth. 
Clusters of spikelets drooping. 8. S. Torreyana. 
Clusters of spikelets rigid, mostly erect. 9. S. hemitaphra. 
Hypogyniums supporting 6 tubercles arranged in pairs. 10. S. Curtissii. 
Achene papillose. ; 
wig ldem supporting 3 entire emarginate or 2-lobed tubercles. 
a 
nt pubescent: bracts very ciliate: achene 3 mm. long. 11. S. ciliata. 
Plant glabrous throughout : achene 2 mm. long. 12. S. glabra. 
Hypogynium supporting 6 distinct tubercles. 13. S. pauciftora. 
Inflorescence interruptedly glomerate-spicate. 
Achene with short transverse ridges or somewhat reticulated : plant annual. 14. S. verticillata. 
Achene smooth : plant perennial. 15. S. hirtella. 
l. Scleria grácilis Ell. Perennial. Stems tufted, very slender or sometimes filiform, 
2-4 dm. tall, smooth : leaves few, shorter than the stem ; blades involute, filiform, smooth, 
simulating the stem : spikelets in a single terminal cluster : scales glabrous : achenes ovoid, 
2-3 mm. long, obtuse, shining or dull, distinctly ribbed lengthwise, with 2 pits on each 
side of the triangular base: hypogynium wanting. 
In low pine lands, South Carolina to Florida and Texas. Alsoin Cuba. Summer. 
2. Scleria Baldwínii Steud. Perennial. Stems relatively stout, 3-10 dm. tall, 
smooth, at least below, often rough above: leaves few ; blades linear, 2-5 mm. broad, or 
sometimes narrower, smooth or somewhat scabrous : spikelets in a single terminal cluster : 
scales glabrous: achenes ovoid, about 4 mm. long, smooth and even, dull, apiculate,. ob- 
scurely triangular, without pits at the triangular base; hypogynium wanting. 
In pine-land swamps. Florida to Texas.—A form with longitudinally ribbed achenes, growing 
from Georgia and Florida to Texas, is S. Baldwinii costáta Britton. Summer. 
3. Scleria triglomeràta Michx. Perennial. Stems 3-angled, 4-10 dm. tall: leaves 
few, but often conspicuous ; blades flat, glabrous or nearly so, 3-9 mm. wide, the upper at- 
tenuate, rarely exceeding the stem : flower clusters terminal, and usually also 1 or 2 smaller 
ones from the axils : achenes ovoid or ovoid-globose, above the hypogynium, obtuse, bony, 
obscurely 3-angled, smooth, bright white, shining, about 2 mm. high ; hypogynium low, 
obtusely triangular, papillose-crustaceous. 
ud dn meadows, thickets and dry sand, Vermont to Wisconsin, Florida, Texas and,Kansas. Summer 
il. 
4. Scleria oligántha Michx. Perennial. Stems slender, erect, sharply 3-angled, 
nearly smooth, 4-9 dm. tall : leaves sometimes numerous in the tufts; blades smooth or 
slightly rough at the apex, 4-6 mm. wide, the lower short, acute, the upper elongated : 
clusters terminal, usua ly also 1 or 2 axillary and filiform-stalked : bracts slightly ciliate 
